[Attendance prediction for smut?]

15 hours ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

I really think you’re overestimating how many students go home Labor Day weekend. 

I never went home for Labor Day, but back then classes didn't start until after Labor Day.

[Stadium Broadcast]

4 hours ago, Andrew said:

Yeah when my wife came home from work she heard the music and was confused. It was overpowering for sure, but hopefully no more games on Stadium. It was already a poor streaming service but now that they are overpaying their guys and trying to do more shows they for sure lost their focus. Best thing there is ROH and Shams. 

Games at UTSA, WKU, and UAB scheduled to be on Stadium. I had to turn audio down last night - very annoying.

[DRC: Five reasons for pessimism for UNT heading into the 2022 season (Part II of annual series)]

This time last year close followers of NT football saw a schedule that was going to be difficult in the first half of the season and a bit easier in the second half. Folks should keep that in mind when they see reports of how much the team improved during the season. I don't doubt the team improved, but don't overlook how the schedule played into that.

[ESPN+ Conference USA offseason preview - Bottom 6]

CBS has the same six at the bottom, with LaTech next to last above FIU. 

They have top five as UTSA, UAB, WKU, UTEP, and UNT. 

Of non-conference opponents, SMU is just behind UAB, Memphis is three notches above UTEP, and UNLV falls about halfway between LaTech and FIU. 

If results followed all that (they never do), NT ends up 6-6 plus a bowl game. Anything better would have to include win at Memphis or UTEP plus taking care of business at home conference games plus Texas Southern.

[ESPN+ Conference USA offseason preview - Bottom 6]

We have four of those on the schedule - all at home. That means we get the other four of the top five on the road. Need to take care of business at home and win some of those road games to have a decent conference record.

[NIL Arms Race]

Unless the NCAA puts a reasonable cap on this soon, college football as we know it may not survive.

[Combined Football and Basketball Rankings 1-130]

Under current alignment, here are average rankings for these conferences:

C-USA, 81.9 (east 86.3, west 77.4)

Sun Belt, 82.3

AAC, 67.5 (average of the 8 programs not moving to Big 12 is 84.75)

 

Here are average rankings after announced realignments (ignoring current FCS):

C-USA, 70.9 (drop three programs over 100, gaining Liberty 45 and NM State 87, will change when 2 FCS move in)

Sun Belt, 87

AAC, 82.2 (3 drops to Big 12 average 21.3)

 

So, Conference-USA was weakening just as UNT moved into it. History is repeating as we move to AAC, but we will not have Judy as commissioner!

[Future schedules]

20 hours ago, gangrene said:

To say I’m underwhelmed by this season’s home schedule would be an understatement. However, home games against Texas Tech (2027), Baylor (2029), Missouri (2030) and Colorado (2033) are exciting to me. Of course, a lot can happen between now and then to cancel those games.

I’m excited, to a lesser extent, to welcome Cal (2023), Memphis (2023), UNLV (2026), Wyoming (2027) and Army (2028) to Apogee.  Texas Southern, Abilene Christian, Stephen F. Austin, Houston Baptist and Texas State don’t interest me at all. 
 

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/north-texas/

As of now, Memphis stays in AAC - East, so they become a conference opponent as frequent as what we experienced with C-USA eastern division opponents.  If expected alignment holds, we get Tulsa, Tulane, and Navy at home on alternate years.

[Travel for this upcoming season]

Leaning toward Memphis (did that as a student in 1967) and Birmingham. We went to a game in San Antonio a few years back, and I didn't like the seats (narrow leg room and no cup holders). San Antonio is fun so I might consider that.

[Memphis men's basketball team facing multiple NCAA violations]

Sure, only Houston, SMU, and Memphis had 20 or more wins. That said, I think only Tulane and USF had losing records in non-conference games. 

[DRC breaking news (updated with story) -- C-USA resolves membership issues, lets three schools leave, a move that will impact UNT football slate]

Is there any consideration for bringing Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, or Sam Houston State into Conference USA now instead of waiting?

[Recycling schedule talk]

C-USA Schedule: Oct 15 - UNT at Marshall / Oct 22 - Southern Miss at UNT

SBC Schedule: Oct 12 (Wed) - Louisiana at Marshall / Oct 22 - Southern Miss at Texas State

Now if C-USA prevailed on the schedule, just how welcome would Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss be at C-USA host games?

[Rice on Jan.1]

My tix are still not loaded to my account, and we are more than two hours away. No response from ticket office, so WB gets the next email.

[MBB ticket update]

Here it is Friday evening, and my tix for Saturday are not loaded to my account yet.

[Stadiums]

Thought I would chime in here:

1. Fouts Field, 1960-2010
2. Skelly Stadium (Tulsa), 1966
3. Liberty Bowl Memorial (Memphis), 1967
4. War Memorial (Little Rock vs. Arkansas), 1968
5. Texas Stadium, 1970's
6. Apogee, since 2011
7. Cotton Bowl Stadium, 2013 & 2016
8. DKR - Austin, 2014
9. Ford (SMU) - 2015,2017,2019
10. Alamodome (UTSA), 2016
11. Aggie Memorial (Albuquerque), 2018
12. Toyota Stadium (Frisco), 2021

 

[Tickets being loaded to AXS app now]

Section 129, row 12

[Teams' Pregame Activities for Frisco Classic?]

2 hours ago, meaniegreenie said:

They're giving out all the remaining KFC box dinners left over from the earlier game.

UTSA versus San Diego State in that game. Don't you mean cream of chicken soup left over from that one?

[NCAA adds new Texas Bowl Game]

If the NCAA decided that eligible teams at .500 or better can go to a bowl game, then let’s go with it. Bonuses for the team include extra practice, exposure, matchup with a team they don’t normally face, and (sometimes) travel to a different venue. Regarding the new bowl, ESPN Events has already said DFW area. Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin Counties already have bowl games; so Denton County would seem to provide the fairest balance. Apogee is a fantastic venue for football, and probably better than many stadiums that are hosting games.

[Cold Hard Truth]

3 hours ago, Side.Show.Joe said:

I agree that we have talent at a lot of positions. But I think we have a few other spots that need more talent. The QB position is certainly our weakest link, and Littrell should have to answer for it. He has brought in QBs in every class. When he was hired he actually made a point of addressing the QB position. The fact that he hasn't developed a QB since Mason Fine is an indictment against his leadership as our head coach.

But, I also think we're still weak on our o-line. Yes, we have about 3 solid starters that will probably be all-conference before they graduate, but there are probably two spots that need to be upgraded. And the depth is still an issue. I think we need more depth in our defensive front too. Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Those positions should always remain a priority.

And at tight end, Jason Pirtle is a senior. We have Jake Roberts, but need to see more from the others on the roster.

[Don’t take the fool’s gold]

We need a stronger arm at QB. Aune was often short on long passes, forcing receivers to slow down and allowing defenders to catch up.

[Looking to next year]

1 hour ago, Hunter Green said:

Who on the receiving corps is back next year? Bush?

Hopefully Shorter! Also Burns (SO), Burns (SO), and Ward (R-FR). Perhaps Brown (FR) steps up.

Need Roberts to fill Pirtle's shoes at TE.

[Don’t take the fool’s gold]

1 hour ago, GrandGreen said:

Enjoy the victory and give the team credit.   They stomped a team that they were only a slight favorite to win. 

I still wonder why anybody thinks campaigning to have Littrell terminated before the season is over has any merit.   He is not going anywhere till the season is over if then.

It is like NT winning any game is a disaster to those that want a coaching change.

Look what TCU did today for an answer. Once it was decided to look for a new coach, Patterson stepped down. With that loyalty to the starting QB no longer a factor. Freshman Chandler Morris started and upset 8th ranked Baylor. 

[North Texas - Rice Official Game Thread]

Anybody else notice there were NO TURNOVERS in this game. 

Also, our run-run-run offense in overtime worked beautifully.

[ODU leaves CUSA in the dark of night]

11 hours ago, outoftown said:

Judy sleeps fine. Her salary is coming in no matter what

It seems that Judy has been asleep for several years.

[I Think Seth Will Be Our HC Next Year]

The TV timeouts seemed excessively long Saturday, but surely Seth has better things to do than walk over and complain to the TV timeout signal guy on the sideline like he did in the fourth quarter.